Forward osmosis filtration cell, and methods of filtering water with a forward osmosis filtration cell

A method of using a forward osmosis filtration cell to filter water in a water treatment system, the method comprising:

• providing a forward osmosis filtration cell comprising:
• a first plate having a concavity forming a first chamber configured to hold a draw solution, the first plate having an inlet port and an outlet port for the first chamber;
• a second plate having a concavity forming a second chamber configured to hold a feed solution, the second plate having an inlet port and an outlet port for the second chamber, wherein the second plate is stacked with the first plate;
• a forward osmosis filtration membrane positioned between the first and second plates, the filtration membrane dividing the first chamber from the second chamber;
• a first electrode positioned in the first chamber;
• a second electrode positioned in the second chamber, and
• wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are both spaced apart from the filtration membrane and configured to apply an electric field across the filtration membrane to prevent fouling on the filtration membrane;
• flowing a draw solution into the first chamber;
• flowing a feed solution into the second chamber;
• and
• generating an electric field across the filtration membrane with a first electrode positioned in the first chamber and a second electrode positioned in the second chamber to prevent fouling on the membrane.